This Monster Wants to Eat Me is an ongoing manga series set by the Seto Inland Sea. The story follows Hinako, a girl haunted by memories that make her feel as if she’s drowning every day. Her life changes when she meets Shiori, a mysterious woman from the ocean. Shiori wants to eat Hinako—but not yet. She bides her time, devouring any creature that threatens her “meal.” Alongside their classmate Miko, the trio navigates a strange and suspenseful tale by the sea.
Last year, it was announced that the manga would receive an anime adaptation, courtesy of the animation Studio Lings and the production company Infinite. Studio Lings previously worked on the series Yuri is My Job alongside Passione; Nozomi Ikuyama, who was an animator on that series, is providing character designs for This Monster Wants to Eat Me.
Last year, it was announced that the manga would receive an anime adaptation from Studio Lings and production company Infinite. Studio Lings previously worked on Yuri is My Job alongside Passione, and Nozomi Ikuyama, an animator on that series, provides character designs for This Monster Wants to Eat Me.
Otakon invited manga artist Sai Naekawa, editor Takumi Kamemaru, and anime producer Ena Hamabe to speak with Comics Beat about Naekawa’s influences, the story’s appeal, and which character from the series they’d like to spend time with.
There’s no land to be seen
ADAM WESCOTT: Naekawa-sensei, what inspired you to draw monsters? Is the story based on Japanese mermaid legends? Which parts are true to the folklore, and which parts did you change?
SAI NAEKAWA: I’ve loved yokai since I was a child, especially Shigeru Mizuki’s works and his yokai artbooks.
Hinako’s last name is Yaotose. Readers familiar with folklore might recognize a connection to Yaobikuni, the nun who lived 800 years by eating ningyo, or mermaid flesh. That idea influenced the story subtly.
WESCOTT: You grew up by the Seto Inland Sea. What are your memories from that time?
NAEKAWA: I still live there. Setonaikai is very calm. I’m so used to calm waters that the Pacific Ocean frightens me—it has no land in sight. I worry about drifting forever.
WESCOTT: Which manga artists influenced you?
NAEKAWA: Early in my career, I was inspired by Arina Tanemura. I loved her art style more than her stories.
Realistic emotions
WESCOTT: Hamabe-san, what about the manga stood out to you, and what do you hope to highlight in the anime?
ENA HAMABE: The realism of the characters and their emotions is what drew me in. Even the yokai feel real within the setting of Ehime Prefecture.
WESCOTT: Kamemaru-san, how did you first collaborate with Naekawa-san? What do you see as the series’ strongest point?
TAKUMI KAMEMARU: The characters’ realistic emotions. That flow of emotion makes the story relatable, and the art captures it beautifully.
WESCOTT: Which character would you like to be friends with?
NAEKAWA: Miko—she’s probably the kindest.
KAMEMARU: Miko as well. Hinako or Shiori might be out of my league, but Miko would be relaxing to hang out with.
HAMABE: Hinako. I often wonder how I could make her happy.
This Monster Wants to Eat Me is set to stream via Crunchyroll starting October 2nd, 2025.
For more coverage on Otakon 2025, you can find it right here in the Otakon 2025 archive on The Beat!
